Research (Pattern):
Finding Inspiration with Abstraction:
- In this research activity we collected 10 images of natural forms and 10 human-made mechanisms. Using line drawing techniques and digital applications, we analyzed each form using proportion/size, direction/line, component/shapes, value (which are the 4 lines of my own hand drawn abstractions under each picture).
Natural Forms
Human – Made Mechanisms
My Own Research on Mandalas:
- I decided to do some of my own research on mandalas as I wasn’t familiar with their history/purpose. In my research I found that there are 3 different types of mandalas including, teaching mandalas, healing mandalas, and sand mandalas. Source: https://www.invaluable.com/blog/what-is-a-mandala/
- I really gravitated towards the ideas that the healing mandala represents such as it delivers wisdom, restores peace and calm, and it enhances concentration and focus. These are ideas that I constantly live by on a daily basis and felt like I would enjoy making my own healing mandala. Source: https://optimistminds.com/healing-mandala/
Inspiration Photos of Healing Mandalas
Exercise 1: 
- In this exercise, I selected 2 abstractions from my research collection (1 natural and 1 human made). On a single 3 inch square, I drew and combined these abstractions in illustrator. Then repeated this square for a total of 9 times to create 9” x 9” patterned grid design.
- I experimented with rotation of grid squares to enhance and change pattern and movement within the grid. While also playing with line weight, value, and fill variations.
- Compositional Principle Used = Directional Movement
Research (Color):
- As I explained in my previous research section, my focus of this mandala is healing. Once I decided that I wanted to do the healing mandala, I did some research on the specifics of healing mandalas as I was curious if color played a role in them.
- Below is the information I found about color portrayal in healing mandalas. Source = https://optimistminds.com/healing-mandala/
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- White = heals ignorance & unawareness, replace it with wisdom
- Yellow = heals pride & replaces it with oneness and completion
- Red = heals emotions of fear & attachment in individuals and replaces it with freedom and confidence
- Green = heals jealousy & replaces it with unconditional love and positive regard
- Blue = heals anger in individuals & replaces it with self-expression and intuitiveness
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Iterations (Pattern):
Making the Template
- I started off with making 3 rough sketches of grids that I could use for my mandala. I started very busy and gradually decreased the line work in my grid, bringing it down to a more simplified version. As I played around with how I wanted to convey my compositional principle of direction, I found myself creating a grid that looks similar to a star. In my research, I found that healing mandalas often start with a dot in the middle as it symbolizes a blooming of growth. So I tried to keep that same idea in my own grids.
Experimenting
- In this phase of the process, I began playing around with the different abstractions I could use in the mandala. This took a lot of time and experimentation as I found that my abstractions didn’t quite work well together. Trial and error became my best friend in this process.
In this draft I wanted to create a variety of ‘textures’, as the abstractions I was playing with symbolized to me the idea of growth such as the ovals in the middle starting small and gradually becoming big. While also including the tree branch looking abstraction that looks as if the lines are growing outward.
A key suggestion I was given was to lower the stroke width on my lines, the reason for this is so that the lines don’t seem permanent, by doing this it helps me as the designer not get stuck on one idea but to open the possibility of changing up the grid if I wish. In this draft I continued to experiment with the abstractions and how I could show direction.
Although I felt like my abstractions were starting to come together, I felt that the grid was holding my design back, as if the grid was too basic. So I decided to keep the same format but mature it.
I used the radial tool in Illustrator to create my idea of having each ‘arm’ standing as its own. Keeping the space in between each as a way to break up the busyness. When I think of the process of growth, it is not always straightforward, there are setbacks and there are opportunities, both allow for growth in their own ways. This is what I wanted to convey through this mandala.
By using the blue grid lines in Illustrator, it helped my grid become more clean and symmetrical, this also helped me see how my abstractions could fit within the grid more evenly. This draft shows the beginning of how I inserted certain abstractions that worked well with the grid I created.
In this draft, it felt as if my abstractions were really coming together within the space that each was set in. I experimented with repetition in abstractions, line work and even a little bit of color value. The mandala was slowly coming together and only needed a couple more tweaks.
Iterations (Color):
- In my first color mandala draft, I wanted to portray the typical colors that are used in healing mandalas. Using the Adobe Color website, I played with variations of these colors.
- In my second color mandala, I did the same colors used in my first draft but instead heightened the brightness in each of the colors, experimenting how the feeling of the mandala would change based on the brightness of the colors.
- In my third color mandala draft, I wanted to focus specifically on one of the five colors that are typically used in healing mandalas. I decided to focus on blue. I also used the Adobe Color website to find the color variations that I wanted to use.
Production (Pattern):
Abstractions Used:
Reflection:
- I had a lot of fun experimenting with these abstractions. In the beginning I really struggled with how I was going to combine them together to create something that is wholesome yet unique and pleasing to the eye
- After looking at the final product I am happy with how my ideas came together, even though it was a long process in figuring out how to use Illustrator.
- I feel that I could’ve made more improvements especially by using the abilities that Illustrator has, but as I mentioned before this project was very much a learning curve. I’m excited for upcoming projects as I now know the basics of illustrator and how using layers is always important!
Production (Color):
Color Harmony #1: Square
Color Harmony #2: Monochromatic
Reflection:
- I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to explore what color can do not just in our mandalas but also in society and everything that we as humans interact with on a daily basis. I never realized how color can completely change our views or perspectives on something simply with a change in value or brightness of that same color
- If I could go back and change something on my final mandalas, it is that I wish I would’ve thought a little more abstractly. I feel that a lot of the abstractions that I used were basic which made my final product basic as well. For lack of better words, I would’ve liked to take bigger risks with my abstractions and been more comfortable going outside the box of what a mandala usually looks like.